Latest news with #MatthewCappucci
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Mystery object zooming over Washington DC sparks panic as agency scrambles to explain anomaly
A mysterious streak appeared on weather radar over Washington DC on Thursday, sparking theories of weather modification or visitors from another planet. The anomaly, visible on radar loops, was shared online by Kari Lake, a special advisor to the US Agency for Global Media, who asked: 'Anyone know what is shooting across the radar over Washington DC around 3:30pm?' That was around the time a severe thunderstorm rolled into the area, unleashing heavy rains, damaging wind gusts and lightning, which lasted for about one hour. The radar tracked the weather system affecting the region, and a distinct, linear streak moved across the screen. It was not a typical weather pattern, like rain, snow, or hail, which would have appeared more scattered. While baffling, a meteorologist who works for a weather radar agency chimed in to ease the confusion that was spreading online. Matthew Cappucci, senior meteorologist at the app Lake used, explained that the strange line or streak on the radar was not caused by weather or anything unusual. Instead, it was likely caused by something physical, like a water tower or a cell tower, located east of the radar station near Dulles Airport. These structures can block or reflect the radar's signals, creating a false image on the radar screen. This is a common problem with radar systems. 'That can cause a bit of the emitted radar beam to bounce back to radar/cause a spurious signal,' Cappucci said. He added that these types of artifacts are quite common on weather radar. You might also notice things like ground clutter or super refraction. 'Occasionally, we can even detect birds, butterflies, planes, and meteors!' the meteorologist shared. But not everyone is convinced, as one X user commented: 'Sounds like something a meteorologist would say….if they were CIA!!!' However, Lake appeared satisfied with the explanation and thanked Cappucci. The destructive storm toppled trees that crushed cars and houses while cutting power to numerous neighborhoods. More than 15,000 Dominion Energy customers, mostly in Fairfax County, were without power as of noon Friday. Arlington County and Alexandria were also hit hard. More than 3,000 Pepco customers in Montgomery County were without power, along with 455 in Prince George's County and over 870 in Washington DC. Crews are working around the clock to restore service, according to Pepco. Wind gusts reached 61 mph at Washington Reagan National Airport and 66 mph at Dulles International Airport as severe storms swept through the region. Multiple thunderstorm warnings were issued during the evening commute. Despite the intense weather, no serious injuries were reported. That was not the case in New York City, which was also hit by the massive storm. Yassin Khalifa, 15, was struck by lightning in Central Park while enjoying a picnic with his friends. 'I leaned up against a tree, and I told them, `Oh, guys, let´s ride out the storm,´ which in hindsight might not have been the best idea,' Khalifa said. Khalifa said he was knocked unconscious for several minutes. Crystal Mateo, 17, told the New York Times she witnessed the scene and saw Khalifa's friends frantically calling for help and trying to revive him. 'It was scary,' she said. 'I was crying.' Khalifa told WABC he was conscious when he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for burns on his neck and leg. Khalifa said he's expected to make a full recovery. 'Apparently, I´m pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened. So I´m like, not losing any sort of motor function,' Khalifa said. 'So I´m pretty happy about that.' Lightning kills around 30 people a year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Strikes, though, are usually not fatal. About 90 percent of people injured by a lightning bolt survive.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
June is Minnesota's peak for severe weather and 2025 may start fast
June is Minnesota's peak for severe weather and 2025 may start fast originally appeared on Bring Me The News. June arrives Sunday and by Monday there could be severe storms ripping through Minnesota. It could signal the start of a busy stretch in what is typically Minnesota's most active month for severe storms. "The start of June is looking anomalously busy from a severe weather/tornado standpoint. Residents across the High Plains, the Central Plains, parts of the Corn Belt and parts of the Upper Midwest should be [alert]," says meteorologist Matthew Cappucci. "The greatest risk for a few tornadic thunderstorms is over western portions of conventional Great Plains Tornado Alley. Farther east, we may see windy storm complexes pass over parts of the Upper Midwest and into Southern Canada as they ride up and over a ridge of high pressure." NOAA Storm Prediction Center has placed an area of the Dakotas and western Minnesota under a slight risk for severe storms on Monday. At this point, it appears Monday's activity will be most potent west of the Twin Cities, though storms in the metro cannot be ruled out. You get a good glimpse of what might happen Monday when you look at the European model's lightning forecast. Look at how it develops an intense line of storms Monday afternoon and evening. "We're going to see storms develop in South Dakota, western Minnesota late Monday, and then we'll see the leftovers Monday night into Tuesday," says Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard. "Looks like the severe threat for eastern Minnesota will be minimal or non-existent." June is also Minnesota's most active month for tornadoes, though Monday's severe threat looks to be more in the form of damaging winds than tornadoes. From 1991 to 2020, Minnesota averaged 46 tornadoes per year, with a peak of 113 in 2010 and a low of 15 in 2013. "Historically and statistically, June is the month of greatest frequency with July not far behind," the Minnesota DNR says. "May has the third greatest frequency, followed closely by August. Over 85% of all tornadoes in Minnesota have occurred between May and August." The European model is dumping a good amount of rain over the southern half of Minnesota and most of Iowa Monday-Wednesday next week. The outlook for June 2-6 calls for a likelihood of above normal temps and precipitation in Minnesota. From June 4-10, temps are forecast to normalize while it remains favorable for above normal precipitation. With summer starting, now is a good time to look how precipitation has evolved statewide, June-August, in Minnesota since 1900. The GIF blow clearly shows how eastern and southeastern Minnesota have trended wetter in the past 120 years. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Nearly 'Gargantuan' Hail Hits Texas
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Massive hailstones, described as "DVD-sized" and edging close to "gargantuan" in magnitude, battered parts of Texas as severe thunderstorms ripped through the region over Memorial Day weekend. Reports confirmed hail reaching nearly 6 inches in diameter in locations including Afton and Menard, Texas, putting the area at the center of a rare and dangerous weather event. Why It Matters This outbreak of exceptionally large hail posed significant risks to residents, property, and infrastructure across Texas, a state already accustomed to severe weather. The event coincided with the busy Memorial Day weekend, disrupting holiday plans and triggering warnings across the Plains and South. File photo of hailstones on a lawn in Texas. File photo of hailstones on a lawn in Texas. Yesim Sahin/Getty What To Know On Monday, MyRadarWX senior meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted some of the hailstone measurements on X, formerly Twitter. "When it comes to GIANT hail, there's no place like Texas! Texas got MELON-SIZED hail both yesterday AND today!" Cappucci posted. "Anything over 4.72 inches is considered 'DVD-sized.' Anything over 6 inches is a rare category called 'gargantuan.' Yes, that's the real term!" Researchers with the In-situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail In the Plains (ICECHIP) project, funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Northern Illinois University, traveled alongside storm chasers to document and measure hail. In Afton, Texas, on May 25, 2025, a hailstone measured 5.47 inches in diameter, ICECHIP said on X. These events came close but did not surpass the Texas record of 6.42 inches set in Hondo on April 28, 2021, or the U.S. record of 8 inches, set in Vivian, South Dakota, on July 23, 2010. The storms that produced the massive hail also delivered damaging wind gusts of up to 81 mph in Amherst, Texas, as strong as those of a Category 1 hurricane, along with tornado sightings in multiple towns. Flooding also compounded hazards across the region. The National Weather Service (NWS) classifies hail that is one inch or larger as severe; hailstones of 4 inches or larger are often described as "softball-sized." Designations such as "grapefruit," "DVD," and "gargantuan" are used for even larger stones. Large hail forms when strong updrafts in thunderstorms lift water droplets high into freezing layers of the atmosphere, allowing ice to accumulate in concentric layers before falling to the ground, according to AccuWeather. What People Are Saying NWS meteorologist Matt Bishop, who works at the Fort Worth office, told Newsweek: "We just had a severe thunderstorm watch recently issued, and some of the hail could get as large as tennis ball size in some of these storms. That type of a hailstone if it hits a city can cause millions to even billions of dollars in damage, especially if it encounters a car sales lot with lots of new cars." AccuWeather said in a report: "Thunderstorms that fire up through Wednesday afternoon and evening, combined with the rounds of thunderstorms in previous days, will continue to raise the risk for flash flooding across the region. Other hazards, including hail, damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes, will also accompany the flash flooding risk." A forecast from the NWS office in Fort Worth/Dallas: "Scattered strong to severe storms will develop this afternoon and evening, with the greatest chances west of I-35 and south of I-20. Large hail and damaging winds are the primary threats, with a low (non-zero) tornado threat. The main storm timing is between 3 PM and 10 PM." What Happens Next Additional severe storms may continue through Thursday night. People in the affected areas should remain vigilant and follow local weather guidance.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dangerous heat bursts have been spiking temperatures across the US as people sleep. So what are they?
An intense burst of heat hit southwestern Oklahoma on Sunday, sending temperatures spiking into the high 90s. In the city of Chickasha, which is located approximately 40 minutes from Oklahoma City, the weather event occurred in the early morning hours. 'Several hit southwest Oklahoma this morning. An intense burst of extreme heat hit Chickasha, Oklahoma at 5:15 a.m. Sunday morning, bringing the temperature to 95.6 degrees!' meteorologist and atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci wrote on the social media platform X. But, what are heat bursts and how do they form? Here's what you should know. Heat bursts are localized and sudden increases of temperature that are associated with a thunderstorm. The relatively rare atmospheric nighttime events are often accompanied by 'extreme drying,' according to the American Meteorological Society Glossary of Meteorology. They're also characterized by gusty winds. 'Chickasaw went from 77 degrees and 80 percent relative humidity to 95.6 degrees and just 17 PERCENT humidity!' Cappucci noted. 'Chickasaw also gusted to 59 mph! Medicine Park, Oklahoma warmed to 81.2 degrees and gusted to 69 mph. Altus got to 89 degrees shortly after 2 a.m.' Heat bursts need a dissipating thunderstorm or shower and a hot and dry midlevel atmospheric environment to form, according to National Weather Service forecasters. The midlevel atmosphere is around 20,000 feet above the Earth's surface. Thunderstorms develop when moist and unstable air is pushed upward, and rain then falls from the storm. When the storm loses that upward moving current of air, it is dominated by a downward moving current of air. Along with the combination of a hot and dry midlevel atmospheric environment, the downward current's moisture evaporates and cools the midlevel atmospheric layer, increasing its rate of descent toward the ground. The descending air will stop cooling when all the moisture has evaporated, warming the midlevel layer. The heat burst occurs when the warm and dry air descends to the surface. 'As air sinks, it warms up (and dries out). And if you have an air pocket coming from high enough, it warms up a LOT by the time it reaches the surface. It also brings strong dry winds – like a desert hurricane,' Cappucci noted. Heat bursts typically occur in the spring and summer, when thunderstorm activity is associated with daytime heating. While thunderstorms dissipate during the evening as they lose their main source of energy, heat bursts occur in the evening or overnight hours. They can occur in many regions, but are most common in the Midwest and Plains states. However, they have previously occurred outside of that range. A significant weather event in 2012 brought one to Georgetown County, South Carolina. They've also struck the Southwest. Climate change is making heat events more frequent and severe. The rapid increase in surface temperatures - sometimes occurring in less than an hour and leading to a triple-digit high - can take residents by surprise. So can the associated winds, have been known to exceed 70 or 80 mph. They can rip the roofs off buildings and damage trees. In Chickasha, they knocked out the power for more than 2,000 residents in Grady and Caddo counties, according KOCO 5.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Dangerous heat bursts have been spiking temperatures across the US as people sleep. So what are they?
An intense burst of heat hit southwestern Oklahoma on Sunday, sending temperatures spiking into the high 90s. In the city of Chickasha, which is located approximately 40 minutes from Oklahoma City, the weather event occurred in the early morning hours. 'Several hit southwest Oklahoma this morning. An intense burst of extreme heat hit Chickasha, Oklahoma at 5:15 a.m. Sunday morning, bringing the temperature to 95.6 degrees!' meteorologist and atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci wrote on the social media platform X. But, what are heat bursts and how do they form? Here's what you should know. What are heat bursts? Heat bursts are localized and sudden increases of temperature that are associated with a thunderstorm. The relatively rare atmospheric nighttime events are often accompanied by 'extreme drying,' according to the American Meteorological Society Glossary of Meteorology. They're also characterized by gusty winds. 'Chickasaw went from 77 degrees and 80 percent relative humidity to 95.6 degrees and just 17 PERCENT humidity!' Cappucci noted. 'Chickasaw also gusted to 59 mph! Medicine Park, Oklahoma warmed to 81.2 degrees and gusted to 69 mph. Altus got to 89 degrees shortly after 2 a.m.' How do they form? Heat bursts need a dissipating thunderstorm or shower and a hot and dry midlevel atmospheric environment to form, according to National Weather Service forecasters. The midlevel atmosphere is around 20,000 feet above the Earth's surface. Thunderstorms develop when moist and unstable air is pushed upward, and rain then falls from the storm. When the storm loses that upward moving current of air, it is dominated by a downward moving current of air. Along with the combination of a hot and dry midlevel atmospheric environment, the downward current's moisture evaporates and cools the midlevel atmospheric layer, increasing its rate of descent toward the ground. The descending air will stop cooling when all the moisture has evaporated, warming the midlevel layer. The heat burst occurs when the warm and dry air descends to the surface. 'As air sinks, it warms up (and dries out). And if you have an air pocket coming from high enough, it warms up a LOT by the time it reaches the surface. It also brings strong dry winds – like a desert hurricane,' Cappucci noted. When and where do they happen? Heat bursts typically occur in the spring and summer, when thunderstorm activity is associated with daytime heating. While thunderstorms dissipate during the evening as they lose their main source of energy, heat bursts occur in the evening or overnight hours. They can occur in many regions, but are most common in the Midwest and Plains states. However, they have previously occurred outside of that range. A significant weather event in 2012 brought one to Georgetown County, South Carolina. They've also struck the Southwest. What are the associated dangers? Climate change is making heat events more frequent and severe. The rapid increase in surface temperatures - sometimes occurring in less than an hour and leading to a triple-digit high - can take residents by surprise. So can the associated winds, have been known to exceed 70 or 80 mph. They can rip the roofs off buildings and damage trees. In Chickasha, they knocked out the power for more than 2,000 residents in Grady and Caddo counties, according KOCO 5.
